David Rockefeller Fund

Advancing DE&I Strategy Through Board Engagement and Inclusive Leadership Development

The David Rockefeller Fund’s (DRF) Board of Directors recognized a need to reflect more deeply on its legacy, mission, and evolving role in promoting systemic reform. There was a growing desire to center diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) as core to the organization's values, strategy, and grantmaking practices. However, the path forward required clarity, structure, and authentic engagement across Board, staff, and community stakeholders.

Challenge

Cora Group facilitated a participatory, reflective process designed to embed DE&I into the organization’s culture and strategic direction. We led a series of meetings and retreats with Board members, staff, and fellows - modeling inclusive dialogue, systems thinking, and collaborative leadership practices.

Our team helped co-create a DE&I Implementation Roadmap that included:

  • Formation of an internal DE&I Working Group to guide and sustain organizational learning

  • Intentional learning moments scheduled throughout the year to amplify underrepresented voices and perspectives

  • Design and launch of an external grant review committee to bring transparency and equity into funding decisions

Throughout the engagement, we supported capacity-building among stakeholders and fostered an open environment for shared reflection, accountability, and forward-thinking strategy.

Solution

The engagement resulted in a clear and actionable roadmap for integrating DE&I into both internal governance and external impact. Key outcomes included:

  • Stronger alignment between organizational values and strategic priorities

  • Establishment of sustainable structures (e.g., working groups, review committees) to advance equity in grantmaking

  • A more inclusive Board culture, grounded in shared learning and openness to transformation

  • Demonstrated value and trust in Cora Group’s approach, resulting in multiple follow-on engagements

Through this work, the organization began to shift from DE&I as aspiration to DE&I as embedded practice - laying the foundation for long-term, systemic impact.

Outcome